Thursday, 29 October 2009

Professor Chris French, head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths College in London has commented on the supernatural beliefs of Hackney's politicians.The supernatural views of 21 Hackney politicians were published on Blood and Property earlier this week: Do Hackney Politicians believe in ghosts?Question 1: The introduction to your work on the Goldsmith's website says paranormal experience is mainly due to "imperfections in human information-processing". But does culture play a role in this too? Are some cultures are more superstitious than others?

Although all cultures, both historically and geographically, show quite high levels of paranormal belief and reports of paranormal experiences, the detailed content of those beliefs vary from culture to culture.

Question 2: How easy is it to get people to talk about this stuff and how honest do you think they are when they do?

Chris French: As indicated by the responses you received from Hackney politicians, some people are very willing to talk about their experiences, others very reluctant. Typically, that will depend upon such factors as whether the respondent feels they are likely to be believed or ridiculed. Because of my research interest, I am very much aware of the fact that unusual experiences are much more common amongst the "normal" population than most people realise. I am also keen to reassure people that such experiences can be explained in non-paranormal terms - our minds are capable of playing all sorts of tricks on us!

Question 3 To what extent is a belief in the supernatural significant in a political way?

Chris French: Supernatural beliefs do have significance for a number of issues that politicians may be asked to act upon. Probably top of the list would be belief in life-after-death. If you believe that we all have an immortal soul, this is bound to affect your views upon such issues as abortion, euthanasia, etc. Another important area is healthcare generally, with many politicians actively supporting the use of unproven alternative therapies based upon supernatural ideas.

Question 4: Do you think politicians should understand the supernatural views of their constituents - particularly if there are a lot of them who believe in supernatural phenomena?

Chris French: I think that it is essential that politicians have a good understanding of all aspects of the cultural background of their constituents. It is in their own interests to do so in order to avoid inadvertently offending someone's beliefs but also to be aware of dangerous belief systems that should be actively opposed (e.g., in the Victoria Climbié case).

Monday, 26 October 2009

Is it true that London's armed police spend a lot of time rescuing gangsters who have been kidnapped by rivals? Does this happen more than once a week? And when it happens do the hostages refuse to testify against the hostage takers?

The problem does exist despite this being the only example I could find (a story from 2006 when the police managed a prosecution despite the hostages refusing to testify against their kidnappers.)

"I would commend the work and effort put into this investigation by DC Cath Jenkin who was able to persist with the investigation despite the victims and hostages being uncooperative.

"The benefit to future investigations is that a precedent has now been set where the police will succeed in taking robust action against such offenders even when their victims are unable to offer positive support."

At the time Detective Superintendent Alan Pughsley, from Metropolitan Police Kidnap Unit, said:

"This is a prime example of a difficult prosecution where the hostages did not support the police. These kidnappers are dangerous individuals from criminal networks who are highly likely to commit these offences again. It is therefore vital that all is done to prosecute and convict these individuals."

His words: "These kidnappers are dangerous individuals from criminal networks who are highly likely to commit these offences again," suggest that this was not a one off incident.

So the question is whether the most dangerous and fairly frequent work carried out by armed police is rescuing drug dealers?

Hopefully an answer will be in the post on 2 November but judging by the response to this FOI request, there appear to be lots of reasons why this information will not be provided:

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009090001397

I respond in connection with your request for information dated 06/09/2009, which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 07/09/2009. I note you seek access to the following information:

1. The number of kidnaps that occur annually in London.2. The number of these kidnaps that involve armed police.3. And the number of kidnaps that occur annually in which the hostages do not cooperate with the police.4. Which boroughs have the highest incidence of this kind of crime? Could I get the information I asked for on kidnapping in London in relation to the last five years? If there is a problem providing information going back this far, three years would be fine. Any thing that could show whether or not kidnapping offences that I am asking about are increasing or decreasing in number.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act), we have 20 working days to respond to a request for information unless we are considering whether the information requested is covered by one of the 'qualified exemptions' (exemptions which must be tested against the public interest before deciding whether they apply to the information in question).

Where we are considering the public interest test against the application of relevant qualified exemptions, Section 17(2)(b) provides that we can extend the 20 day deadline.

Wherea) in relation to any request for information, a public authority is, as respects any information, relying on a claim that any provision of Part II which relates to the duty to confirm or deny and is not specified in section 2(3) is relevant to the request, or ii) that the information is exempt information only by virtue of a provision not specified in section 2(3), and b) at the time when the notice under subsection (1) is given to the applicant, the public authority (or, in a case falling within section 66(3) or (4), the responsible authority) has not yet reached a decision as to the application of subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) of section 2, the notice under subsection (1) must indicate that no decision as to the application of that provision has yet been reached and must contain an estimate of the date by which the authority expects that such a decision will have been reached.

I am sorry to inform you that we have not been able to complete our response to your request by the original deadline, as we are currently considering whether 'qualified exemptions' apply to the information you have requested. As a result we will not be able to respond within 20 working days.

For your information we are considering the following exemption(s):Section 30 - Investigations and proceedings conducted by the public authoritiesSection 31 - Law enforcementSection 38 - Health and SafetySection 40 - Personal informationSection 41 - Information provided in confidenceSection 44 - Prohibitions on disclosure

I can now advise you that the amended date for a response is 02/11/2009.

This kidnap story (bbc version) saw a friend of Lily Allen taken hostage. It included a comment from an officer in the Kidnap Unit. One of the suspects in the organised kidnap gang was arrested in Hackney.

Friday, 23 October 2009

Hackney politicians were asked:1. Have you ever had a supernatural experience? (Could you give a brief description? Include anything from ghosts to aliens or mediums - or whatever you consider to be supernatural.)

2. Whether or not you have had a supernatural experience, is it a subject that you would class as significant or insignificant? Do you think people should take any of it seriously?

Of 57 councillors, 1 Mayor, 2 London Assembly Members and 2 MPs who represent Hackney, 21 responded. Judging by the replies, many of them thought this was a waste of time, so thanks for replying and if there are any more to come, please send them in.

The replies:

Alan Laing, Labour: As per your comment on your own blog that these questions were "not meant to be a serious exercise", I didn't respond. However, looking at the rest of your blog, perhaps it might be of more help to point out that I am an atheist and believe in a secular society.

Jennette Arnold, Labour: From my background I am very familiar with the culture of belief in ghosts and spirits. As a youngster my grandfather would regularly take me with him on occasions where he told me he was exorcising ghosts!!On the serious side of this though there is a culture, in some communities, of witch-craft which is incredibly dangerous and has already lead to the death and abuse of children. As a patron of the Victoria Climbié Foundation I have campaigned on this issue for years, however, a lot of work still needs to be done.

Sally Mulready, Labour: Sorry,I have no particular thoughts on this subject

Matthew Coggins, Conservative: I have lived in two houses where I believe there were ghosts present. There were smell and temperature changes but I never saw anything.The first was in Blackburn, as a child, when my father got someone to come in and deal with it. And I had a similar problem in a house in Stoke Newington.I'd say my experiences weren't of any significance to me really - I just treated them as a curiosity.

Julius Nkafu, Labour,I am a Christian-Catholic and believe in the HOLY ghost or the HOLY Spirit. I believe in the Power of God and know of the many instances of the Lord's divine interventions to our every day lives.Michael Desmond, Labour: The only “supernatural” experience I’ve ever had was when I was 14, doing work experience for 3 weeks in Borough, South London at my father’s cousin’s accountancy practice. I turned on a tap, the old rickety piping caused water to gush out in such a way words were audible; those words were "Get away from here! …get away from here!" Whether it was a scientific or supernatural phenomenon, I rightly decided never to become an accountant! I think spirituality is very important, I believe each person has a soul which can continue after death. Spirituality is significant, the supernatural less so.Luke Akehurst, Labour I haven't personally had a supernatural experience but have met a few people who say they have and are people I trust so I have an open mind.

Ian Sharer, Lib Dem: "I've not had supernatural experiences myself but a very good friend of mine did. He was an atheist. One day I saw him in the synagogue and he said he had had a heart attack and that he had died and been revived in hospital. He said he had had an out-of-body experience during which he had met his mother who said: "We're not ready here for you yet." He became religious for the last year of his life. He was a friend of my father's and what had happened to him was clear enough in his mind. I'm very religious. The truth is that your view will depend on what you call supernatural. But people do talk about things like the supernatural, evil spirits, and this does border on religion. If you believe in heaven and hell then all of this stuff is bound up. It does appear to be a religious thing. I certainly am open to views on these things. Jewish books that we study say things like "if you could see what was standing next to you, you would die with fright". There are countless things to do with this that we don't understand. For example it is strictly against my religion to use a Ouija board. Obviously there's a belief that there is something going on there.Patrick Vernon, Labour: I have not had a supernatural experience but I would say that when I have been to Africa and visited the slave forts in Ghana, Gambia and Senegal and also in East Africa Zanzibar I have experienced or felt the unrest of souls of Africans that were captured as part of the transatlantic and Arabic slave trade.I think we should not rule out any experience of a supernatural nature as we still are understanding interaction of the human spirit and the impact of exploitation and historical injustice.

Jules Pipe, Labour: I am happy to confirm that I have never felt the need to attribute any event to ‘supernatural’ causes. Whilst I accept that people are entitled to hold whatever beliefs they like – as long as this causes no harm to others – this is not a subject to which I would ascribe any significance, nor which I would wish to see taken any more seriously than it already is.

Mischa Borris, Green: I've not had any supernatural experiences, and I have no particular view on its significance or otherwise. Everyone needs an interest in life, and so long as it doesn't take over someone's life, or lead to fraud (e.g. mediums) that's fine.If there are "ghosts" then they might be some kind of blip in the time continuum, rather than unquiet spirits.Linda Smith, Labour: I have never had a supernatural experience. It is not an issue that is at all significant in my work as a councillor or my life generally. If people wish to take it seriously it is up to them, indeed I believe people's right to believe and express their belief in religion which I would class as being supernatural is now enshrined in law.

Tom Price, Labour: (Any experience of the supernaturual?) No - happily not. (Is the supernatural significant?) I would class it as insignificant and not to be taken seriously.

Geoffrey Taylor, Labour: Yes, I have had experiences I could not explain. Sometimes they don’t really need explanation, for instance if a series of events seem to fit conveniently together, that’s really coincidence or chance, as is obvious when you think of all the very many occasions when events don’t fit together particularly conveniently. Some of the other cases I put down to my brain operating out of my conscious control or knowledge and then pushing some thought into my consciousness. And the rest I’m happy to say I don’t understand, though I think that in principle if not (yet) in practice they are susceptible to scientific explanation.I think people should take life in general seriously. Getting hung up on the so-called supernatural can often mean that people cease to feel the awe they ought to feel in contemplating perfectly natural but wonderful things. You’d think that the natural world, including our loving human relationships and our quest for truth, would be quite enough to keep us thrilled and fascinated without having to reach out beyond for something called the ‘supernatural’.

Jonathan McShane: On ghosts, no I've never had any supernatural experiences and I've never taken a particular interest in the supernatural world. Sorry to give you such a boring answer.Michael Levy (Conservative Chief Whip): Although I receive varied and interesting mail, your questions are a definitive first. I generally have quite enough on my plate dealing with the corporeal without having to delve into the unknown. Fortunately I have had no supernatural experiences - although listening to some debates in the Council Chamber might qualify and therefore its not a subject I would class as having any impact on my thoughts. Although I do believe in the supernatural.Since we live in a Democracy people are free to make up their own minds on the matter.

Christine Boyd: I suppose the definition of “supernatural” is key here, if I take it as meaning something that I can’t explain then the answer would be yes (No comment on the details) – but then again that applies to lots of things. For example I can’t explain Tory policies either, but tend to class those as sinister or spooky rather than supernatural. I don’t think this is a significant subject, certainly does not compare with global warming, child poverty or many of the problems people face on a day to day basis.

Meg Hillier, Labour: Spokesperson: "Meg is still on maternity leave at the moment so I don’t think we can help on this occasion."

Diane Abbott, Labour: A researcher said that the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington had not had any supernatural experiences. When asked if the supernatural was a significant issue she said: "I’ve spoken to Diane but unfortunately she doesn’t have any other comments to make."

Andrew Boff, Conservative: I've experienced odd coincidences but not enough to make me believe in pixies. I don't think you can explain things by using myth rather than evidence. I enjoy the goings on at Hogworts but I do not think that is an explanation for what happens away from the pages of a book.Did you want more?Yes - I am an atheist - the only God is Dawkins.

This was not a serious exercise but it seems likely that the people of Hackney take this subject more seriously than their politicians. Back in 2005 the borough was caught up in a scandal surrounding African churches, exorcism and child abuse. At the time Diane Abbott wrote a piece for the Evening Standard called "Ban these witchcraft churches?"

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Parents seem to be lying to get their kids into the right schools in Hackney. The borough has detected 30 cases, the third highest in London. Evening Standard story:

"Richmond was worst affected, with 49 false applications in the two years. Lewisham recorded 20 fraudulent applications starting this year; Hackney detected about 30 over the two years; Havering found eight, Sutton five. Others were caught cheating in Waltham Forest, Kingston, Lambeth and Croydon."

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

This piece in the Evening Standard says councillor's pay has increased by 20% over the last three years. Figures in the piece show Hackney came in 12th out of 32 London Boroughs in terms of total allowances for councillors and Mayor Jules Pipe is London's second highest paid council leader.

A council spokesman refused to identify the officer, saying: "The council is not able to disclose details of payments to individuals as these are confidential".

The number of people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) in Hackney has risen slightly to 9,884 according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics: Regional Monthly Data - October 2009.

The figures describe the employment situation in September. In Hackney the number of people claiming JSA rose to 9,884 from 9,826 in August and 9550 in July.

The majority of the jobs lost were in the south of the borough. In terms of Hackney's overall working population (about 140,000) 7% are now on job seekers allowance, up from 6.9% in August and 6.7% in July.

Hackney North and Stoke Newington's JSA claimant count for September was 4,338 (6.3% of working population) up slightly from 4,331 in August (also 6.3%).

Hackney South and Shoreditch's JSA claimant count for September was 5,546 (7.8% of working population) up from 5,495 (7.7%) in August.

Over the last 11 months, the percentage of the borough's working population now claiming JSA has increased to 7% from 4.9% - the proportion of Hackney's working population on JSA - 4.9% was the figure in both October and November 2008.

Up until this month Hackney North's claimant count was increasing faster than Hackney South.

The latest figures, which are for September, show 51 new claimants in South Hackney compared to just 7 in Hackney North.

Hackney South has the higher percentage of JSA claimants - 7.8% of its working population, compared to Hackney North, 6.3%.

Last month's figures - which covered July - showed that 9550 people in Hackney were claiming. This was an increase of 242 claimants from the figure in June. In June the number of claimants in Hackney actually fell to 9308 - from 9350 in May, a fall of 42 claimants.

Hackney NorthMay - 4,081June - 4,118July - 4206August - 4,331A total of 125 jobs lost over the period (up to July)Now a total of 250 jobs lost since May.

Hackney SouthMay - 5,296June - 5,190July - 5,344August - 5,495A total of 48 jobs lost over the period (up to July).Now a 199 jobs lost over the period from May.

Friday, 16 October 2009

It is odd that just 7% of charities based in Tower Hamlets claim to be faith-based organisations. The figure seems low not just because Tower Hamlets has a large and active Muslim population but also because it is a great deal lower than both its neighbours. In Newham 23% of charities claim to be primarily faith-based. In Hackney the figure is 22%.

The low level of faith-based charities in Tower Hamlets looks even more peculiar in the context of the main beneficiaries of their services. In Tower Hamlets 7% of charities say their main role is faith-based. Meanwhile 9% of charities in Tower Hamlets say that the main beneficiaries of their services are faith communities.

So there are more charities in Tower Hamlets that serve faith communities than there are faith-based charities.

The opposite is true in Newham and Hackney.

In Newham 23% of charities are faith-based. However, proportionately fewer - 15% - of Newham charities claim that faith communities are the main beneficiaries of their services.

In Hackney 22% of charities say they are faith-based but, again, proportionately fewer - 12% - of Hackney charities say that faith communities are the main beneficiaries of their services.

So, in Tower Hamlets, there are charities that claim not to be faith-based that serve faith communities. While in Newham and Hackney there are charities that claim to be faith-based but don't serve faith communities.

Is this discrepancy because charities in Tower Hamlets believe that if they describe themselves as faith-based they will not be eligible for public funding? Or is there a less sinister explanation for these differences?

The table below shows the answers given to the question "What are the main roles your organisation undertakes?"

Tower Hamlets -The first column is the answer to the question, the second column is the national average (as a percentage of 48,939 respondents nationally), the third column is the response of the borough's charities as a percentage of 281 respondents.

Q6 Community development and mutual aid

17

20

Q6 Delivery of public services (e.g. social housing, health care, day centre, counselling, community safety)

Compare this to Hackney: The first column is the answer to the question, the second column is the national average (as a percentage of 48,939 respondents nationally), the third column is the response of the borough's charities as a percentage of 285 respondents.

Q6 Community development and mutual aid

17

17

Q6 Delivery of public services (e.g. social housing, health care, day centre, counselling, community safety)

And compare it to Newham: The first column is the answer to the question, the second column is the national average (as a percentage of 48,939 respondents nationally), the third column is the response of the borough's charities as a percentage of 246 respondents.

Q6 Community development and mutual aid

17

26

Q6 Delivery of public services (e.g. social housing, health care, day centre, counselling, community safety)

In comparison, 7% of charities in neighbouring Tower Hamlets claim religion as their main role. But Newham has an even higher 23%.

The Hackney figure is more than twice the national average of 10%. The next most common role of charities in Hackney is: "Delivery of public services (e.g. social housing, health care, day centre, counselling, community safety)", with 21% of 285 Hackney-based organisations saying that this was their main role.

In response to the question "Which of the groups listed below are clients / users / beneficiaries of your organisation?" 36% said faith groups were amongst their clients, compared to a national average of 22%.

Have Hackney Charities had enough cash over the last 12 months? Apparently not and to a much higher extent than the national average:

Sufficient

49

30

Insufficient

39

56

Don't know

1

1

Not applicable

6

8

No answer given

5

5

Number of respondents

48939

285

None-the-less, they think they have been successful.How successful do Hackney charities think they have been over the last 12 months?Hackney results in the right hand column (total 285 respondents):

But bear in mind that most don't have any dealings with the council on any issues:"To what extent, if at all, does your organisation currently have any direct dealings with local statutory bodies in your area?"

A great amount

6

9

A fair amount

20

19

Not very much

35

33

None at all

34

36

Don't know

2

2

No answer given

2

2

Number of respondents

48939

285

32% said that they carried out their work in the local authority, compared to the 20% national average - 17% said that they worked in their local neighbourhoods compared to a national average of 34%. Hackney also has a much higher proportion of internationally focussed organisations:

Q8 Internationally

7

15

Q8 Nationally

12

20

Q8 Regionally

14

21

Q8 Your county council area (Two tier only)

4

0

Q8 Your borough or district council area (Two tier only)

9

0

Q8 Your local authority area (Single tier only)

20

32

Q8 Your neighbourhood

34

17

Q8 Cannot say

1

0

Q8 No answer given

4

4

Number of respondents

48939

285

So how many people in the borough are employed in the third sector?

No employees

56

42

One

8

8

Two

6

9

3 to 5

9

11

6 to 10

6

11

11 to 30

6

9

31 plus

5

6

No answer provided

4

4

Number of respondents

48939

285

With 11% of the borough's 285 charities employing 3-5 people that's a possible of 94-156 people employed in these charities.

Another 11% of charities say they employ 6-10 people. That is a possible range of 188-313 people employed in these organisations.

9% of Hackney-based charities say they employ 11-30 people. That is a range of 282-769 people.

Lastly 6% of Hackney-based charities said that they employ at least 31 people, that is at least 530 people.

Adding the total minimum calculations shows that a minimum of 1094 people are employed in Hackney-based charities.

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Blood and Property asked Hackney politicians for their views on the supernatural and their answers will be on this blog sometime before Halloween.

This was not meant to be serious exercise. Those asked to respond included MPs Meg Hillier and Diane Abbott. A spokesperson for Meg Hillier said that she was on maternity leave while Diane Abbott was not able to give a full answer. Her reply, via a researcher, was that she had never had a supernatural experience and that she would not say if she thought the issue of the supernatural was significant.

Back in 2005 the supernatural - or what other people thought about it - was higher on her agenda. In an article in the Evening Standard: Ban these witchcraft churches (not the original) she said: "Multiculturalism is one thing, but I draw the line at being asked to respect the views of people who believe in demonic possession." She said that "fringe churches", specifically African ones, were "a serious problem" in some London Boroughs - most notably Hackney.

So her views on the significance of the supernatural would have been interesting to hear.

There was a backlash of sorts against the impulsive reaction of the media to 'possessed' African children allegedly being tortured in large numbers. The Independent investigated: "A blizzard of lurid newspaper stories which reached their high point in the London Evening Standard's front page splash: "Children Sacrificed in London Churches, Say Police"

It said: "On the back of all this commentators like the black MP Diane Abbott rushed to judgement with a call to "ban these witchcraft churches". Who could argue in the face of such facts?"

Diane Abbott MP held a welcome reception for the American spiritual counsellor, lecturer and bestselling author Iyanla Vanzant. Abbott heard about Vanzant through friends a year ago. "She's started an underground movement," she says, "almost like a religion. People feel very, very passionately about her."

A woman who produced human fingers in court in a bid to explain her involvement in a £925,000 tax credit fraud has been jailed for five years.Remi Fakorede, 46, from Hackney, east London, told Snaresbrook Crown Court, she had been forced into crime by a voodoo curse on her and her family.

Friday, 9 October 2009

From the BBC, September 30th: Councils are required by law to carry out fire risk assessments on social housing high-rise blocks. But several more councils have now told BBC London they have not done so, including Hackney where 129 are still unchecked - the city's highest total.From the BBC, October 6th: A story called "Most dangerous tower blocks named" included Hackney with 258 tower blocks, six of which are rated "high risk" and 20 "without valid fire risk assessments".

"We don’t like your sort here A reminder that much of the country is yet to be won over by the Tories. One council candidate in Hackney, a Labour stronghold in East London, told us of a recent canvassing trip: “I knocked on one front door and as soon as I said, ‘Hello, I’m your Conservative Party candidate’, he punched me in the face.”

She says she got the background from cab and bus drivers: "Word on the street is that this killing is in retaliation for last Saturdays killing of a 23 year old Turkish man, Oktay Erbasli, whom police believe was also in retaliation for another killing. The two drug gangs involved are the Tottenham Boys gang, whom Erbasli was a member of and a rival gang called Bombacilar."

The only other mention of the incident I could find was: Gang war fear after second shooting
from Press Association: "A 21-year-old Turkish man was gunned down near a cafe in Hackney, east London, shortly before 11pm on Monday. Paramedics raced to Ickburgh Road, a short distance from Clapton railway station, but were unable to save his life. Two men in their 20s were arrested at the scene and were being questioned by murder squad detectives."

One of the gangs mentioned by Raggy Dee Ann- bombacilar - was the subject of this piece Turkish gang problem? written back in April.

Turkish gang problem in Hackney: According to the Islington Gazette a Turkish Gang called "Bombacilar" may have had something to do with an Islington shooting last month and a shooting in Clapton.

Back in 2006 it looked as if the police had stamped out the gang when its leader, Abdullah Baybasin, was jailed for 22 years. The BBC said he started "a gang of young thugs known as the Bombacilar (Bombers) who spread fear throughout the Turkish and Kurdish community.

Monday, 5 October 2009

A man on a bike pulled a gun on a police officer in Hackney on Saturday and fired (piece in the Evening Standard ):"The Pc was on patrol with a sergeant in Hackney when they spotted four youths on bikes they wanted to question and followed them.

Three pedalled off but the fourth pulled out a gun and opened fire on the officers. The bullet missed."

This very interesting brief history of Hackney's bike unit (I hope it's genuine) explains that cops on bikes is the best way to combat gangsters on bikes. It also says that overtly taking photos of gangs likely to cause trouble for small patrols generally deterred violence:

"A recent tactic that we have started to employ with considerable success is overt photography of persons believed to be involved in street crime... It has one additional benefit that has been invaluable in looking after officer safety - when a group of suspects tries to interfere in our conduct of a stop, the overt use of the camera causes them to scatter at speed."

The piece also explains that once the bike team had developed a reputation in the area it was less likely for people to try and run away: "A fair number of persons, both on foot and on bikes, elected to try to run away from us at this time. We found that we caught them in these circumstances on over 90% of occasions as a result of the speed of our bikes, our ability to follow suspects through estates and our developing tactics - when a chase started my cyclists would 'starburst' and cover every escape route the suspect might take. Having been in operation for four months, we now find that suspects running away from us are a rarity - it's clear that our ability to catch people has been communicated throughout Hackney."The team was set up when: "It became apparent that a significant contributor to this problem was caused by youths riding on mountain bikes. These proved very difficult to stop due to their speed and the heavy traffic - both pedestrian and vehicular - in the area."

Will Hackney police be targeting gangs on bikes again? (Hackney police beat bike gangs): "As a result of the operations, 649 stops of youths were made over the four day period, resulting in 42 arrests for a variety of offences including possession of an offensive weapon, burglary, handling stolen pedal cycles, possession of drugs and being wanted on warrant for ABH and GBH. Twenty tickets were issued for a variety of traffic laws."And is there any relation to a rise in the number of bikes being stolen?(From the Hackney Gazette):

"Haggerston and Queensbridge are among the worst 10 wards in the capital, according to new figures from the Met Police.In Haggerston, 237 bikes were stolen between July 1, 2008, and June 30 this year - making it the eighth worst ward in London.The ninth worst was Queensbridge, where 223 bicycles were stolen during the same period."

Sunday, 4 October 2009

A freedom of information request by the Lib Dems reveals that Hackney has the highest number of CCTV cameras. This piece on the Evening Standard website makes a case that the highest levels of CCTV are in areas with the poorest crime solving records... except in Hackney.

"Hackney has the most cameras - 1,484 - and has a better-than-average clearup rate of 22.2 per cent."

Hackney Homes CCTV Policy: "Most of the cameras on estates are fixed and cover a defined area. CCTV cameras on estates are primarily used to deter crime. The cameras identify perpetrators of crime and can assist in the apprehension of offenders and provide evidence for their prosecution."

Ms Abimbola-Akindele is the outsider in the contest but her description of her role in Hackney politics is interesting: “I have recruited many members since I became the chairperson of Queensbridge ward in Hackney.

“I also hold the post of the surgeries manager at Meg Hilliers’ (MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch) surgeries assisting the senior caseworker.”

Ms Abimbola-Akindele is a school governor, an executive committee member of Africans for Labour, a member of the Black Socialist Society, a governor of the East and the City University Mental Health NHS Trust and a charity fund-raiser.

This commentator on Labourhome is not a fan of Ms Abimbola-Akindele: "Adenike RachelAbimbola-Akindele is a serial applicant who is putting her cv for most seats, she does not turn up at selections or go to the area but because she is a woman and BAME is always shortlisted. It’s a shame as it is blocking places for more worthwhile applicants who have worked the area for many weeks before nominations. Also, as can be seen in Barrow, she is being tactically nominated by some branches to ensure that their man (John Woodcock – Gordan’s Spad) faces less competition."

Old tea in Hackney

Antigone Clarke, 63, of Hackney, east London, has been collecting and trading tea caddies for 30 years and has co-written a book, Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies & Society. She runs a shop called Antique Boxes at the Sign of the Hygra in Hackney. Story in This is Money.